The recently completed 2nd World Vintage Softball Carnival staged in Oahu, Hawaii involved teams and players from Australia, Canada, USA, Ireland, England, Scotland and New Zealand supplemented in most sections by local teams.
There were some wonderful moments during a week of mixing and mingling with teams and players from various parts of the softball world.
There were also some disappointments with the promised facilities for the staging of the ladies Fastpitch games not eventuating and with the lack of available diamonds at Central Oahu Regional Park meaning that three fields being required to cater for the number of the teams that attended.
The expected local teams in the Ladies Fastpitch section did not take part and caused problems with re-arranging of the draw and disappointment amongst those teams who were looking forward to playing local sides.
The Hawaiian teams that took part in the Slowpitch and Mens Fastpitch certainly added to the enjoyment of the Carnival by those who were able to play with and against them.
Dependence on the local Association in the staging of a Carnival is essential and there was clearly a misjudgement by the locals of the size and extent of the Carnival. The use of Kapiolani Park was marred by poor presentation of the fields and deficiency in some of the most basic needs of an international Softball Carnival and was well below what was promised and expected.
The teams that played at Central Oahu Regional Park enjoyed world-class facilities and exceptional support from local Softball administrators.
The local Association provided Umpires but indicated they were hamstrung by the failure of the local authorities to issue permits for food and beverage at Kapiolani Park and at Ali Waii. Regrettably the local Association were unable to provide the diamonds we required, actually withdrew diamonds at short notice and on one occasion had double booked a field to the detriment of the Vintage teams.
Despite the difficulties that some teams experienced most expressed enjoyment of the Carnival, appreciated the difficulties faced and were supportive of the efforts made to ensure a successful Hawaiian experience.
The Tiki Room at Resort Quest Hotel staged a lively and enjoyable Opening Function with plenty of food, soft drinks and cocktails. The Tiki Room is a wonderful venue over the road from Waikiki Beach. The Closing Function at Germaine’s Luau was great fun and a beautiful evening. A good number of the Vintage Softballers took part in the floor show and some even excelled at learning to hula. Again there was plentiful food and beverages and the Carnival finished on a fun note at one of Hawaii’s prime tourist attractions.
The weather was great and teams were able to enjoy the ambience of Hawaii and many extended their visit to tour and cruise other islands.
Vintage Softball Carnivals are not Masters Tournaments and as was emphasised in pre-Carnival newsletters is not about trophies. Vintage Softball is intended to be all-inclusive and while the results and wins or losses are very important on a game by game basis, the emphasis is on enjoyment, mixing and mingling with softballers from various parts of the world and generally celebrating the game. Many teams taking part recognised the objectives and enjoyed their week of fun and friendship on and off the Diamonds accordingly.
GO TO THE COMPLETE PHOTO GALLERY HERE
There are still trophies and awards to be made (though not many) and the prizes were presented to the following:
Men’s Fast Pitch Winners Hawaii Invites (Mixed Hawaii/Australia)

Co-ed Slow Pitch Winners Tap in the Gap (Alberta, Canada)                                   

Men’s Slow Pitch Winners Human Kinetics Florida Legends (Florida, USA)                       

Women’s Fast Pitch Section 2 Winners Southern Masters (Western Australia, Australia)                       
Women’s Fast Pitch Section 1 Winners Wiley’s Angels (British Columbia, Canada)
           
Women’s Slow Pitch Winners Slammers (Manchester, New Hampshire, USA)
                       
Men’s Fast Pitch MVP Darryl Parker (Hawaii Invite Mens Fast Pitch)                                   

Men’s Slow Pitch MVP Jack Burke (Human Kinetics Florida Legends)                       

Co-ed Slow Pitch MVP Warren Kragnes (Tap In The Gap, Alberta, Canada)                                  
                       
Women’s Fast Pitch MVP Sharon Klein (Wiley's Angels, British Columbia, Canada)

Personality of the Carnival Brian Cleary-Binks (Wild Rovers, Ireland)                       

Fun Team of the Carnival Casey MVP’S (Victoria, Australia)                       

Hard Case Team of the Carnival Hawaii Invite Men's Fast Pitch                                   

Most Friendly Team of the Carnival Tap in the Gap (Alberta, Canada)
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Thanks to all those who expressed their enjoyments of their Hawaiian Vintage Softball Carnival experience and have indicated they will continue to be involved with the Vintage Softball Movement. It became obvious that the Vintage Softball philosophy does not suit all teams who may be better suited to Masters Tournaments.
Vintage Softball is committed to providing friendly softball experiences in attractive destinations and Hawaii was selected on that basis. The disappointment of the facilities for the Ladies Fastpitch was beyond the control of the organizers and a valuable lesson was learnt with respect to selection of venues and their capacity and ability to host international softball.

Vintage Softball is grateful to those individuals and teams who have chosen to make sensible suggestions for Vintage Carnivals and a number of those have been noted and incorporated in changes planned for future Carnivals.

The following are matters currently being considered and likely to be implemented:

1. The Carnivals will in future be separated into Vintage Fastpitch Carnival and Vintage Slowpitch Carnival with separate websites. The two Carnivals will be staged at different times (possibly in consecutive weeks at the same destination). The combination of Fastpitch and Slowpitch while intended to recognise the two forms of Softball meant there were more teams that the host Association and its facilities could handle.

2. The destination remains very important and is an integral part of the enjoyment of Vintage Softball Carnivals. The choice of destination is very much in the hands of the participants and will still be subject to a vote but greater emphasis will be placed on the relationship with the local Association and their ability to provide the playing facilities required.

It is possible that different destinations will be selected for Slowpitch and Fastpitch.

3. The age brackets will be reviewed and Fastpitch base age will be moved from 35 to 40. The plan is to provide the opportunity for more mature players to enjoy good fun softball amongst players who are no longer playing at the top-level and whose competitive attitudes are tempered by age and maturity.
Following a lot of feedback we have made the decision to leave the Fastpitch base age at 35.
Thanks for the feedback.

The age for Slowpitch to remain the same.

4. The rules for Vintage Softball to be reviewed and restated with some of the suggestions from teams incorporated. Once in place the rules will not be varied except in extreme circumstances and every effort will be made to ensure the rules are the same from Carnival to Carnival.

5. Vintage Softball Carnivals are operated on a not-for-profit basis with surpluses being donated to local Associations as was the case in Rotorua, New Zealand where the Rotorua Softball Association benefited from donations in cash and supplies. The Hawaiian Carnival did not create surpluses though it is assumed the local Association benefited from the various charges it applied for fields, umpires and supplies. The policy of benefiting the local Host Association is to be recognised as a major benefit of Vintage Softball Carnivals.

6. The local (Host) Association to be involved in all aspects of the planning of the Carnival from the playing point of view which was the case with the Rotorua Softball Association and which was intended with Hawaii but which did not occur as expected.

7. Teams to be encouraged to adopt and enjoy the Vintage Softball philosophy of fun, fraternity and friendly competition with recognition that winning is important for every game but that the object is more on friendship and meeting new friends and renewing old friendships in great surroundings than on winning trophies.

8. Still time to cast your vote for the next destination-the leading contenders are as follows:

Fastpitch:                                         
1. Perth, Australia                           
2. Christchurch, New Zealand        
3. Vancouver, Canada                     

Slowpitch:
1. Dublin, Ireland (regrettably probably not suitable)
2. Vancouver, Canada
3. Hawaii (again)

Still time to vote and we are very keen to get more votes before we make the decision.
Send your vote to enquiries@vintagesoftball.com

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And thanks to those who have sent us thanks for what we managed in Hawaii and who have told us they would like to come again:

Had a blast and will definitely come back!
Nicole
Tap in the Gap…

Deb and I just wanted to say thanks for running a great event in Hawaii. We had a wonderful time. We both would like to vote for Vancouver Canada for the 2011 event. Thanks!!!
Jena Palisoul
Deborah Muir
Slammers

It was really great to meet you at the softball Carnival. Thanks so much for all your efforts. I hope your trip home was safe & calm.
Cheryl Italia
Slammers

Many thanks for a great time in Hawaii
Mark (Willo)
Ramblers